Tuesday, March 25, 2008

I'm ready to see the green; green grass, green leaves, green clover and I'd love to see lots of green money.

This week, I'm finally getting back to the new book I'm working on. With rewrites on Baby Decision and other projects, I haven'tbeen able to work on my new book. Now, I'm trying to get back on track.

Also added to the schedule is a new patio for my backyard. Talking to contractors and setting up time can eat away hours of my day, but I'mreally looking forward to being able to spend some time outside.

Friday, March 21, 2008

What happens when a fairytale-believing wedding planner and a jaded hot-rod builder who thinks love is nothing more than a chemical reaction end up on opposite sides of the aisle at the wedding of her best friend and his brother? A wedding war erupts.

Jake Ryan will do just about anything to keep his brother from making the same mistake he made. He’s convinced there won’t be a wedding because he’s out to stop it. Mia Briscoe’s determined this will be the most spectacular wedding she’s ever planned. And when she discovers the groom’s brother is out to break up the happy couple? The battle begins.

Jake and Mia have both suffered deep emotional wounds that prevent them from making lasting connections. And both are baffled by the intense feelings they bring out in each other. Can Mia teach Jake that love is something to cherish and not loathe? And if she can, will he be strong enough to bury his past so they can have a chance at a future together?

Excerpt:

Oh, baby. Come to mama.

Mia Briscoe had never been one for flights of fancy, but the big, bruising man sprawled out in First Class seat 2B made her want to drop to her knees and thank nature for producing such a fine specimen.

If the long, muscular legs clad in soft denim were any indication, he had to be at least two or three inches over six feet. The jeans, worn in all the right places, drew her gaze to what promised to be an impressive package. His black T-shirt hugged thick, sinewy arms roped with muscle and stretched across a pair of well-defined pecs. A ball cap hid his face, but she sensed a firm, square jaw. He stared at a magazine that lay open in his lap, as his long, masculine fingers touched the page.

Mia told herself not to stare, but damn, how could she not when the man’s body was so...mouth watering? She whimpered. She actually whimpered.

She’d never been affected by a man like this before. Not even in high school, when other girls swooned over rock and movie stars. To have this reaction here, on an airplane, of all places seemed...strange. And wonderful.

It took her mind off the fact that the last time she’d boarded an airplane it’d been to sit at the deathbed of the woman who’d raised her after her parents died in a car accident. She’d been thirteen. Aunt Eva took her in, loved her and guided her to make the right choices in life. Eleven months later, her aunt’s absence still felt as raw as an open wound. Don’t think about it.

Mia gathered herself, realizing she stood in the middle of the aisle salivating over a piece of man-candy. She glanced down at the boarding pass in her hand. 2B. Her eyes flickered to the bulkhead.

Wait a minute. Mr. Studly is in my seat!

Wow, she must have managed to repay one hell of a karmic debt, because good fortune shone on her today.

A coiffed and polished flight attendant gave Mia a plastic smile as she passed by. Mia looked back down at Mr. Studly, still engrossed in his magazine.

She cleared her throat.

No response. She tried a more direct approach. "Excuse me. I think you’re in my seat."

He finally glanced up and Mia’s heart all but stopped.

Oh, my.

Blue eyes, as deep as the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean, stared up at her, an unreadable expression on his face. Intelligence shone in those gorgeous depths, and his dark brows pulled into a frown as he gave her face and body a slow perusal. Mia felt his gaze as if he’d touched her with those tough, masculine hands. She suppressed a shiver.

She’d been right about that square jaw. At eleven in the morning it showed signs of a heavy beard. His strong chin boasted a faint cleft. She’d always had a weak spot for a man with a strong chin with a faint cleft.

He broke eye contact, returning his attention to his magazine. "I’m not moving."

Huh?

"I beg your pardon?" Mia asked.

"You heard me," he said, in a deep baritone.

"But…you’re in my seat." She thrust her boarding pass under his nose. "See? It says right there. Seat 2B."

Is this guy for real? A hunk of studly man-love he might be, but he had the manners of a garden rock. Wishing he had just kept his mouth shut, she drew up to her full five feet nine inches. "Are you sure about that?" she asked sweetly.

"Lady, I’m not gonna sit here arguing with you all day. You better sit your pretty little ass down or you’re gonna be in for a rude awakening when we take off."

Of all the pigheaded, misogynistic things to say! Mia’s blood pressure skyrocketed as a fine red mist gathered before her eyes.

Mia wasn’t one to stand by while people trampled over her in order to get their way. No, sir. She was no one’s doormat. And it infuriated her that this guy expected her to toe the line simply because he said so.

She planted her feet and propped a fist on her hip. "I’m not going anywhere. You’re the one who should move."

He glanced at her and smirked. Why did the colossal jerk have to be so damn gorgeous? It wasn’t fair.

"Not gonna happen," he drawled.

"The hell it’s not."

One black brow lifted sardonically. "What are you gonna do? Tell on me?"

"You bet your ass I am." Mia spun on her heel and smacked into the Barbie-doll flight attendant she’d seen moments ago.

"Is there a problem?" she asked Mia.

"As a matter of fact, there is. This…this person" —she infused plenty of meaning into the word so there was no mistaking what she thought of squatters, "is in my seat." She shoved the boarding pass at the flight attendant, who stared at it as though Mia handed her a smelly sock. "It’s right there. 2B." She whirled back on the interloper. "He’s in my seat."

While it pleased her enormously to vent her frustration, Mia realized her behavior was a tad childish. True, the man occupying her seat had started this whole mess, but as an adult she should have risen above it. She ran a successful—okay, successful was stretching it—wedding planning business, for crying out loud. She dealt with disasters worse than this on a daily basis.

"Sir?" the flight attendant asked. "May I see your boarding pass?"

He smiled, the act transforming his entire face. Mia wasn’t going to fall for his charming act this time. Uh-uh. No way. However, Airline Barbie was a different story. She looked ready to climb on his lap and take him for a ride. While she perused his boarding pass, he flicked a glance at Mia. And smirked.

Bastard.

"Sir, it does say here you’re in 2A." She seemed disappointed.

He turned that megawatt smile back on Airline Barbie. "It’s just I have this thing about planes," he explained, speaking to the flight attendant as if Mia had ceased to exist. "I have a real hard time flying as it is, so it helps if I sit in the aisle. I thought I was getting an aisle seat, so I just sat here."

"That’s the biggest load of crap I’ve ever heard. You are not seriously going to believe him, are you? He’s totally playing you." Mia huffed and folded her arms under her breasts.

Airline Barbie turned on Mia. "Ma’am, you need to calm down right now or I’m going to have you removed from the aircraft."

Mia’s mouth hung open. Outrage sang through her blood, but logic and reason, temporarily out to lunch, decided to make a comeback.

"If he would have said that to begin with, I would have gladly given up my seat." There. She even managed to sound the teensiest bit contrite—though she spoke through clenched teeth. "He can have the stupid seat if he’s afraid of flying. Okay? It’s not that big a deal."

Mia’s temper often landed her in situations such as this. However, had The Jerk explained his fear of flying in a calm and rational manner when she’d first spoken to him, she would have gladly traded seats. But, nooo, he had to be a big ol’ butthead about it.

Really, The Jerk deserved Mia’s ire.

Airline Barbie didn’t look convinced. In fact, she and The Jerk shared a commiserating glance, as if Mia had lost her mind. She knew she fought a losing battle. And the hell of it was, she had to sit next to him for the next five hours.

Her first time in First Class, paid for by her best friend, whose wedding she would be planning for the next two weeks, and it had been ruined by a misogynistic pig who, quite unfairly, resembled a dark, delicious and seriously yummy god.

Sunday, March 9, 2008

This weekend we explored a small part of Nebraska. We drove down some rural roads. Mike, my husband took several pictures of the different things we passed. Check them out under on my picture page.

I've also finished up my edits for Baby Decision. From what I'm hearing, it should be out in the next couple of months. With Pregnancy Plan going to print in April. I am going to have some busy months ahead of me promoting.

Egg-cerpt:"Oh, he is good," I whispered. I wanted to watch the prince's life drain from him, just as he was draining the spirit from me. My vow to stop rebelling forgotten, I envisioned Prince Modred's blood pooling at my feet.

"What was that, Lin?"

"The bastard is good. A worthy adversary. He knew precisely where to strike. Where it would hurt most. That is why I did not see him today. Oh, for a bard's curse."

"Lin, leave it. You cannot win against him."

"Ah, but I will. Just you watch me, Dafydd. So help me, I shall win." I heaved my bowl across the room towards the palace. Its contents flew in every direction, and people in its path ducked their heads to avoid being hit by the missile. "This is between you and me, prince. Attack me all you want, but leave my brother out of it."

Want to win a free copy of FIREBRAND? Read my blog "A book is a book" and leave a comment to be entered in the drawing I'll hold on March 9, 2008.

Brenden's eyes narrowed, "You were so selfish that you considered yourself above anyone else, even our daughter!"

It felt like a dam had broken within her, all the pent up emotions flowed out of her.

"Yes!" she exploded. She walked away from him, her shoulders shaking.

"You think this was so fucking easy for me Bren. Have you stopped to think that I was seventeen years old and pregnant? I was scared! My God Bren, you told me just before I found out I was pregnant you were going to school and becoming a doctor. All the plans you made, how could I ruin that for you?"

Brenden sank down on the nearby sofa, stunned by her outburst. "Well you see I never did go to school, so I guess you ruined it for me anyway."

"I told you to go on with your life!" She shouted resentfully.

Brenden blinked rapidly as if trying to hold back tears. Several minutes passed before he answered.

"How could I when the woman I loved waltzed right out of it with no explanation? I was heartbroken. All those plans you talk about, they were our plans. When you left, I didn't think beyond a minute at a time, then eventually a day at a time. I followed my father's footsteps, managing the store. It was easy for me, family business, I couldn't fail. That is my life now, I run that damn store better than ever before." His voice was acrimonious.

Bitterly she laughed. No longer caring if she hurt him, her voice oozed sarcasm."You think that's my fault? You think things have been so hard for you? I had no one. I had this baby by myself. To survive and put food on the table, I did what I had to do. Was I always responsible NO! But I did what I had to do."

"Cass--"

She cut him off with a gesture. "No Goddamn it, you are going to listen to me. You put me up on a pedestal. You thought I was this perfect woman. No matter how wild I got, you always made excuses for me. You justified every damn thing I ever did."

"I loved you!" He rose and walked towards her.

Cassandra began to speak and faltered, stopping to regain her composure she whispered,"I know you did, but how could I go to you, this person who loved me so much and tell you the one thing that I knew would change everything? I didn't want you by default! That's what it would have been." She hung her head dismally, not wanting him to see the tears clouding her eyes.

Brenden moved closer to Cass, gently placing his hands on her shoulders. "Cass, I was planning to ask you to marry me the night of prom. In the morning, I had set it up real nice, ring by your plate, the whole nine yards. There was no having me by default. You had me." His voice was tender.

She bit her lip until it throbbed like her pulse. One single teardrop fell down her cheek. When she could, she turned to face him.

"I didn't know that Bren. But I wouldn't have agreed. I was pregnant and determined. Maybe I didn't make the right choices, but they were my choices. I can't go back and undo all the pain I've caused." She dropped to the couch, face in her hands. "Please Bren, don't take Becca from me. I am trying to do the right thing, we can work something out."

His stare made her feel as if she were a mere cockroach. Deserving of it as she was, she was still angry. She glared up at him.

"What? The noble Brenden Carter would have done what was expected of him. Married the poor girl he knocked up because she wasn't responsible enough to take her pills the way she should have. Always perfect, to a fault.

"Cass I am not perfect!" He sighed running his fingers through his hair "I am merely a man, a man who loved you with all his heart."

Tense silence filled the room; Cassandra walked to him and slowly raised her hands, taking his face between her palms."If you loved me, then please don't take my child from me."

She watched his eyes soften slightly and she held her breath as she waited for him to speak.

"Cass, I'm not going to take Becca from you. I will, however, see her as much as I would like."

Cassandra slowly removed her hands from his face the tears flowing freely down her cheeks. A wave of relief washed over her. Brenden continued in a tone that suggested there would be no more argument on the matter.

"I agree for Becca's sake we need to do this right. Neither one of us is in the state of mind to deal with telling a little child something this important. Be ready tomorrow at noon, I'll be picking up you and Becca."

"What? I don't know..." Apprehension filled her as she searched her mind for a protest.

"You've had it your way, now it's my way. You will help me get to know my child, and you will be there to answer any questions she has. I didn't make this mess, you did."

She watched Brenden walk towards the door, and open it with quiet resolve. He turned back and met her eyes."Tomorrow Cass."

Cassandra nodded and he closed the door behind him. She listened as his truck roared to life and then faded into the distance. She walked slowly to the door, and opened it, looking out at the beauty that surrounded this house. She could hear birds chirping, and watched a bunny scurry over to the fountain in the yard.

Watching the bunny run around, she smiled at its innocence. Scampering away, the bunny took off for an unknown fate. Her own fate was just as undetermined; things were now out of her hands. Slowly, she walked towards the stables to find her daughter and Reese. Tomorrow may be a mystery, but she was going to enjoy today with her daughter.

Monday, March 3, 2008

Egg-cerpt:She stood toe to toe with him, aware that his height gave the man a distinct advantage. His close proximity sent tingles of awareness racing over her skin. “But we’re not married.” “We soon will be.” His hands settled around her waist.Swallowing the wet need gathering on her tongue, she quickly tried to think of a way to work her way out of the current situation. “I don’t think you understand, William. I don’t want to marry you.”“You will.” His arrogant statement hit her in the gut. She had no recourse. The law wouldn’t protect her. After the last war, the government had granted men with dragon slayer ancestors any mate of their choosing, a prize for gaining the country its freedom. If he wanted her as his wife, she couldn’t turn him down. But she might be able to get him to rethink his plans.“But why would you want to marry me?”

Sunday, March 2, 2008

With the beginning of the new year, most of us have the goal to get in shape. My husband and I have been very good about exercising in the past, but over the last few months with our move, we have gotten out of the habit.

Now, after adding a few pounds, we've both decided we need to get back to the gym. The problem is finding the motivation to get up in the morning to exercise. We have tried doing it at the end of the day, but being tired, we'll usually opt out if given the chance.